Sometimes nightlife isn’t everything when visiting Thailand, So we’ve compiled a list of Awesome Things To Do In Pattaya During The Day while on your next holiday in the “Land of Smiles”.
Located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand and about 2 hours away from Bangkok, is the city of Pattaya, which, more than famous for its beaches, is famous for its lively and spicy nightlife.
Luckily, there are other more interesting attractions to see in Pattaya and that is what you are going to see in this article
Not many years ago, in the 1940s, Pattaya was a small fishing village, until during the Vietnam War it became a resting place for American troops.
It could be said that, from that moment on, it became well known as a tourist destination, not only because of its beaches but because its lively nights also began to have certain popularity.
So much so, that over the years it has become one of the most famous sexual destinations in Southeast Asia.
Things To Do In Pattaya
Table of Contents
Despite being one of the “red cities” of the country, and although many people still consider Pattaya as the “sex capital of Thailand”, fortunately,, it is not the only highlight of this coastal city.
Although the city is renowned for its atrocities in crime and wild-life nature however, there are still many good sides to this town.
It is clear that it does not have the charm of other cities in Thailand, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai,, or Kanchanaburi, among others, but if you’re going to spend a couple of days in Thailand, you can also use this city as a stop before reaching the spectacular islands of eastern Thailand.
What To See In Pattaya
1. Beaches of Pattaya
Pattaya is made up of three bays, Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach, and Naklua Bay. They are not spectacular beaches, but they are nice to rest a couple of hours after spending the morning visiting other interesting places in Pattaya.
The urban beach of Pattaya Beach is 3 kilometers long and is the most accessible as it is located in the central part. The Pattaya Beach Road promenade is lined with hotels, restaurants, shops,, and massage centers.
At the end of this street is where Pattaya’s famous Walking Street begins.
Jomtien Beach
South of Pattaya Beach is Jomtien Beach, one of the most famous and preferred by many tourists, since so far it is also one of the quietest. Here you will find a lot of offers for different water sports, such as jet skis, water skiing, windsurfing, etc.
It also has a beautiful walk and a wide range of hotels and restaurants. For many tourists, it is the most beautiful and an ideal place to spend a very pleasant afternoon.
Naklua Bay
Located north of Pattaya Beach, Naklua Bay is even calmer than the previous ones. There are not so many hotels or restaurants here so it attracts less tourism.
2. Sanctuary of Truth
We would dare to say that the Sanctuary of Truth (Sanctuary of Truth or Prasat Satchatham in Thai), located by the sea, is one of the most impressive temples to see in Thailand. It was built in 1981, and today it is still under construction.
This imposing temple is built entirely of teak wood, which makes it a unique temple in the entire country, as it is the largest wooden construction that exists in Thailand. As a curiosity, thanks to a technique used many years ago, not a single nail has been used throughout its construction. It is 105 meters high at its highest point, and inside you can see numerous carved figures from Buddhist and Hindu mythology.
The entrance costs 500 Bahts (about $15), quite expensive for any Thai person, but thanks to this they can finance this monumental project, which is undoubtedly one of the essential places to see in Pattaya. The sanctuary is open every day from 08:00 in the morning to 6:00 p.m.
3. Wat Phra Khao Yai Temple
Wat Phra Khao Yai temple was built in the 1940s and is located on top of Pratumnak Hill, also known as the Big Buddha Hill of Pattaya. Its long stairs decorated with the mythical seven-headed serpents on each side, take you to the great Buddha image of 18 meters high, the largest in the province of Chonburi, as well as other statues.
Thanks to being located 100 meters above sea level, you get beautiful views of the city. A highly recommended visit to do in Pattaya, and also the gate fee is free.
4. Pattaya View Point
About 10 minutes walk from the Big Buddha hill, is the Phra Tamnak Mountain or Phrabat Mountain, although it is also known as Pattaya View Point, the highest point in the city and an excellent viewpoint.
Nearby is the Monument to Krom Luang Chumphon, founder of the Royal Thai Army, and to which the locals will pay their respects.
5. Pattaya Floating Market
The Floating Market Pattaya (Pattaya Floating Market), although it has nothing to do with the Floating Market Bangkok, is one of the places to see in Pattaya.
It was inaugurated in 2008, and it is also known as the floating market of the Four Regions, referring to the four great areas of Thailand (North, Northwest, Scepter,, and South).
We visited it in the afternoon and there was not so much movement of local people selling from their boats, so if you want to visit it, better do it in the morning.
Anyway, as soon as you enter, going through the box first (200 Bahts per person, about $8), you already realize that there is a little local market, and yes a lot of tourists.
It is also one good visit to do in Pattaya if you have time, and you can take the opportunity to eat something at some of its stalls, as well as buy fabrics or crafts.
If you want, you also have the option of taking a boat trip through the market, but that was already what seemed more touristy, and at a quite expensive price. The market opens from 09:00 in the morning to 8:00 p.m.
6. Walking Street of Pattaya
If the city of Pattaya is known for something, it is for its famous Walking Street. The red-light district, the street of sin, whatever you want to call it. A huge street of more than half a kilometer, full of neon lights, restaurants, cocktail bars, gogos, ladyboys, discos, clubs where they do quite risque live performances, cabaret shows, and everything related that you can imagine.
Although it is the area of the city that causes the most controversy for all the background that is behind this world, it cannot be denied that walking at night along Walking Street is already a spectacle in itself. Better come to discover in the first person why this place is so popular.
More places to see in and around Pattaya
If you have one more day to visit the city, here are other interesting places to see in Pattaya.
7. Nong Nooch Botanical Garden
Located about 15 kilometers from the Floating Market, is the Nong Nooch Botanical Garden (Nong Nooch Tropical Garden). Among the more than 2 square kilometers of surface, it is home to around 700 different species of orchids, as well as French-style gardens, among many other flowers.
Although admission costs 500 baht (about $17), it is one of the most important gardens in Thailand. Here you can also enjoy various traditional dance shows and other types of performances, but it costs 300 baht more. Its operating hours are from 08:00 in the morning to 6:00 p.m.
8. The Buddha Mountain
15 minutes by motorcycle from the Botanical Garden, is the famous Buddha Mountain (Khao Chee Chan in Thai), another of the most curious places to see in Pattaya.
The mountain is named for having a gigantic image of Buddha over 100 meters high and 70 meters wide, carved in the stone of the mountain itself. It is said to have been engraved using laser technology and gold leaves were embedded in its silhouette.
9. Island of Koh Larn
One of the best destinations in Pattaya is to visit the island of Koh Larn, located 7 kilometers off the coast. This island, also known as Coral Island, has an area of 4 square kilometers, and here you can enjoy more beautiful beaches without much tourism, such as Thien Beach, Thong Lang Beach and Tawaen Beach, in addition to being able to practice diving and other water sports. Another island near Koh Larn is Koh Phai.
You can get to Koh Larn by boat in about 45 minutes or by speedboat in just 15 minutes. The boats leave from the Bali Hai Pier, very close to the famous Walking Street.
10. Pattaya water parks
If you are going to travel to Thailand with children, and visit the city of Pattaya, here there is also fun for the little ones. The Ramayana Water Park, the largest water park in Thailand and one of the largest in Asia, and the Cartoon Network Waterpark are some of them.
11. Koh Samet Island
If you want to visit an island near Pattaya City but don’t have much time, the beautiful island of Koh Samet is one of the best options. On this island,, you will find lush green landscapes, as well as coves with crystal clear waters, ideal to take a few days of relaxation.
Our stop for a couple of days in Pattaya was precisely because we were going to spend a week in the paradise islands of eastern Thailand, the first being the island of Koh Samet, and continuing through Koh Chang, Koh Mak,, and Koh. Kood.
Nothing to envy about the famous islands in the south of the country, and also with much less tourism.
Frequently Asked Question About Things To Do In Pattaya
How to get to Pattaya from Bangkok
The best option to go from Bangkok to Pattaya is by bus. From Ekamai Bus Station (Bangkok Bus Terminal Eastern), and Mo Chit Station, buses run very frequently throughout the day.
There is a distance of about 150 kilometers, and the journey takes about 2 and a half hours to the Pattaya bus station. The price of tickets will depend on which company you travel with, but they usually cost 120 or 130 baht (less than $5).
Accommodation in Pattaya
The hotel accommodations in Pattaya are very wide and for all budgets. From hostels with shared rooms to large and luxurious hotels of international chains.
While we were in Pattaya, we were staying in one of the hotels which is about a 25-minute walk from Pattaya Beach. Although we were a little further from the center, we found a very good offer that we got the private room, which by the way was very good, at $12 a night.
Also, we wanted to be calm and not be in an area where there were a lot of parties.
You can book your accommodation at the best price taking advantage of these offers and discounts. Remember that if you book your hotels in Thailand with some company tours, you might be lucky to get a 10% discount on your stay.
How many days to visit Pattaya
You will be able to know the most important things to see in Pattaya in two days, as well as enjoying some of its beaches, or even three, if one of these days you want to take an excursion to the island of Koh Larn.
If you just want to get to know the city, a couple of days is more than enough.
How to get around Pattaya
To move around the center of Pattaya you can do it by walking, but it depends where you stay and the places you want to visit, the best thing is to use the Songtaews (the red trucks), the Grab, or rent a motorbike and go on your own without depending on other transport.
Do I Need The Internet in Thailand
Beyond the free Wi-Fi you have in your hotel and in the cafes or restaurants you go to, it is as important as it is advisable to have a connection on your mobile at all times since you never know when you will need to consult something.
It is one thing to be hooked on social networks while you are traveling, and quite another, it is to need to contact someone, consult a map to get to a destination, reserve accommodation halfway to another city, etc., and it is at this time when it becomes necessary.
What Is Thailand Currency
The currency of Thailand is the Thai Baht (THB). In many establishments, as well as hotels and restaurants of a certain category, you can pay with a card, especially in a city as touristic as Pattaya.
Remember that many of them will apply an extra charge of 3% for paying by card, in addition to the commission that your bank will apply.
In more modest accommodations, food stalls and local transport will only accept cash, so you will need the currency of the country. In the city,, you will find many automatic teller machines (ATMs) to withdraw local money, but keep in mind that your bank will charge you a fairly high commission for withdrawing money abroad.
Our recommendation for any trip is that you always carry the BNEXT or Revolut card to withdraw money from the ATMs without commissions, and the N26 card to pay also without commissions. Another advantage of these cards is that you also avoid carrying a lot of cash on you.
If you prefer to travel with cash, in Pattaya you will find many exchange houses where you can change your dollars, or whatever currency, to Thai bahts. We recommend that you always do it at authorized exchange houses to avoid any type of problem.
There is also the option of exchanging money from home through the ExactChange page, where they send the country’s currency home, and you won’t have to worry once you get to your destination.
Things To Do In Pattaya During The Day Conclusion:
Pattaya City is a hustling and bustling city full of good times! There’s no limit as to what kind of fun you can find to pass the time.
If you’re interested in learning more about Thailand’s Sin City check out our Pattaya City Fun Guide for a better idea about Pattaya’s nightlife.
If you’re interested in booking a trip to Pattaya or any of the other beautiful cities and islands, check out our Booking page!